Periodontal assessment of postmenopausal women receiving risedronate

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare periodontal status of postmenopausal women with mild to moderate osteoporosis who use risedronate therapy with those who do not. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 60 age-matched postmenopausal women with mild to moderate osteoporosis diagnosed by a bone density scan T score below -2.5 at either spine or hip were divided into two groups. Women in the experimental group had used systemic risedronate once weekly (35 mg) for at least 3 months. Women in the control group had never used bisphosphonate therapy. The periodontal status of each subject was evaluated through a clinical periodontal examination including evaluation of periodontal probing depth, gingival recession, gingival index, plaque score, attachment loss, and alveolar bone level. The significance in differences between the two groups was assessed using two-tailed paired t tests. RESULTS: Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between risedronate and control groups for periodontal probing depth (2.6 vs 2.9 mm), gingival index (0.37 vs 0.71), plaque score (56.2 vs 77.0), attachment loss (2.8 vs 3.2 mm), and alveolar bone level (3.1 and 4.0), respectively. Gingival recession parameters did not differ significantly. Five of six periodontal parameters evaluated show that postmenopausal women with mild to moderate osteoporosis using risedronate therapy have healthier periodontal status than those who do not use bisphosphonates. CONCLUSIONS: Women using risedronate therapy show significantly less plaque accumulation, less gingival inflammation, lower probing depths, less periodontal attachment loss, and greater alveolar bone levels. These observations suggest that risedronate therapy may play a beneficial role in periodontal status.